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Rail Crash Investigations
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what (a) contracts and (b) technical support contracts were (i) awarded and (ii) used by the Health and Safety Executive as part of their investigation into the derailment at Potters Bar in May; and if he will make a statement. [58651]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
In addition to all the work undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) internal laboratory, HSE engaged the following contractors to support their investigations of the Potters Bar rail crash:
Contractor
AEA Technology Rail—assistance with investigations (contractual arrangements will be via the central HSE call-off contract).
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The investigation continues and further contracts may be let. However, it should be noted that providing an exhaustive list of all contractors would entail disproportionate cost.
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
Providing details of contracts let to support the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) investigation of the Southall rail crash would entail disproportionate cost because the methods of record keeping have changed since the Southall crash.
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what (a) contracts and (b) technical support contracts were (i) awarded and (ii) used by the Health and Safety Executive as part of their investigation into the Ladbroke Grove rail crash in October 1999; and if he will make a statement. [58649]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
In addition to all the work undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) internal laboratory, HSE engaged the following contractors to support their investigations of the Ladbroke Grove rail crash:
| Contractor | Research |
|---|---|
| Grant Fire Consultants | Review of existing fire standards and a review of the literature in respect of the behaviour of fires on porous ground |
| Intertek Testing | Testing of gas/oil samples |
| Forensic Science Services | Paint analysis |
| Astra Zeneca | Auto ignition temperature test of samples of gas/oil |
| University of Sheffield | ICP analysis |
| Garvic Development | Design advice related to fuel tank impact test |
| IC Consultants | Technical support in respect of the failure of fuel tanks and of the collision dynamics |
However, it should be noted that providing an exhaustive list of contractors would entail disproportionate cost.
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what (a) contracts and (b) technical support contracts were (i) awarded and (ii) used by the Health and Safety Executive as part of their investigation into the derailment at Hatfield in October 2000; and if he will make a statement. [58650]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
In addition to all the work undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) internal laboratory, HSE engaged the following contractors to support their investigations of the Hatfield derailment:
| Contractor | Research |
|---|---|
| Trimac Ltd. | Specialist photographic support |
| AEA Technology Rail | Assistance with investigation including on-site derailment investigation, track profile measurements and examination of vehicles |
| AEA Consultancy | Advice on non-destructive testing |
| Serco Rail-test | Practical non-destructive testing of rails |
| Sheffield Testing Labs. | Chemical analysis of steel samples, and machine and tensile test of rails |
However, it should be noted that providing an exhaustive list of contractors would entail disproportionate cost.
SPADS
Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what (a) contracts and (b) technical support contracts were (i) awarded and (ii) used by the Health and Safety Executive as part of their process of monitoring and investigating signals passed at danger; and if he will make a statement. [58647]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
The information is as follows.
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Railway Lines
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (1) what representations he has received from (a) the Health and Safety Commission, (b) the Health and Safety Executive, (c) Railtrack, (d) train operating companies and (e) others regarding (i) trespass, (ii) vandalism and (iii) informed vandalism on railway lines; and if he will make a statement; [58197]
- (2) what discussions he has had with (a) the Health and Safety Commission, (b) the Health and Safety Executive, (c) Railtrack, (d) train operating companies and (e) others regarding (i) trespass, (ii) vandalism and (iii) informed vandalism on railway lines; and if he will make a statement. [58198]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 22 June 2002]: I have been asked to reply.
The Government are pleased that all sections of the rail industry have come together in the National Route Crime Group to examine and promote ways of tackling trespass and vandalism on the railways. The group includes passenger and freight train operators, Railtrack, Railway Safety, the Health and Safety Executive, British Transport police, trade unions, infrastructure contractors, the Rail Passengers Council and the Strategic Rail Authority. The Government will continue to remain in touch with these organisations on their efforts to reduce the incidence of trespass and vandalism on the railways.
Departmental Land
Mr. Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the land that his Department (a) is offering for sale and (b) plans to offer in the next 12 months, giving its (i) location and (ii) size. [59060]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
I have placed in the Libraries of the House a spreadsheet listing the land, which the Department's Highways Agency is (a) offering for sale and (b) plans to offer in the next 12 months, giving its (i) location and (ii) where available, size.
Health and Safety Commission
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on what dates he has (a) met, (b) written to and (c) communicated with the chair of the Health and Safety Commission in the last 12 months; what the subject was of each communication; and if he will make a statement. [60000]
Mr. Jamieson: I have been asked to reply.
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Ministers are in regular contact with the chair of the Health and Safety Commission and have frequent meetings, formal and informal, and correspondence with him throughout the year. The precise information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Computers
Dr. Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many computers were replaced in his Department in each of the past three years; how the replaced units were disposed of and by which companies; and at what cost. [60748]
Mr. Jamieson: The information requested is not held centrally, or in a format which permits ready answer to the questions, and could therefore be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Age Discrimination
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if (a) his Department and (b) its agencies have a policy of not considering applications for employment by persons over a particular age. [59459]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 10 June 2002]: My Department, including its agencies, follows the Civil Service Management Code. In line with that code, all applications for employment from persons below the age of 65 are considered equally.
Public Consultations
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the public consultations undertaken by his Department since June 2001, stating in each case the (a) number of respondents and (b) percentage of those specifically consulted who responded. [60146]
Mr. Jamieson [holding answer 10 June 2002]: According to central records the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions issued 70 consultation documents between 1 June 2001 and 29 May 2002. I have placed a full list in the Library. The Department does not, however, keep central records of the numbers of responses received to each consultation.
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